Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1887-09-01


urge her 10 Fave some lunch In short,
our poor little sailor soon disappeared down
the companion-way, and IL seemed ages be-
fore she climbed those stairs again. Such
misery as filled the next two days sho had
never known. o, how she longed for 1--WE
minutes on shore.
How near are we to land p she had once
asked In utter despair and the chcery ste
war,less replied only n mile and 'alf,
mum its just under MS !
Among Sues troubles were two life-pre-
servers, which were suspended from the
ceiling of the stateroom, and tilted slightly
with every motion of the ship They were
in the shape of rings, 10 be fastened around
the body, and, in the midst of her sick fam
cies, she could not get the idea out of her
head that they were immense doughnuts,
painted white, which she must eat at once
| Father and mother recovered first, then
Alice, and last of all, Sue. Then how sweet
the air, how beautiful the long, foamy
sweep of the waves, the rosy clouds, the
passing ships that now and then fiuttercd,
| like white moths upon the horizon. She
used 10 get up very early in the morning
and the bluf, kind-hcarted officer would in
vitc her up with him on his high bridge
| where she could see the whole ship spread
out like map, and could look oil over the
gray water and gray sky, until the east
grew all ahame, and slowly, grandly, the
full, bright sun arose.
| Isn't il like the King of glory shall come
in 80 she had once said timidly 10 the red
bearded first-mate.
Yes, Miss, he had answered in his short,
hearty way, and he comes every day, as
soon rs ever the gates are up
| So the hours went by quietly, peacefully,
and the faithful engine never ceased 10
throb, night or day. Sue watched whales
and sunsets 20 her hearts content Alice
( spent much of her time in walking up and
down the deck with the captain, and learn
ing to play shuffie-board and ring-toss.
Father and mother read and t"'ked, and
dozed in the warm sunshine.
One of Sues favorite occupations was TO
90 as far forward rs possible, on the upper
deck, aud watch the steerage passengers, of
| whom there were two or three hundred on
board She pitied them because they look
ed so poor and miserable. Some of them
seemed To be returning TO their old homes,
discouraged and hopeless. Some laughed
and talked noisily, but most of them curled
up, wherever they could, on stanchions or
heaps of rope, and lay there. many of them
wretchedly sick, through out the day. They
generally ate, drank and washed in full
sight. The worst thing was that they were
treated rs If they were cattle. They were or
| dered roughly back and forth by the Off
GERS, and at n certain point rope was
drawn across the deck, 10 prevent them
from intruding upon the cabin-passengers.
They nearly all had a weary, hopeless, hunt
cd look, which went 10 Sues heart. Still,
she could do nothing for them. The rules
OF the ship "Hra yory strict she had car
ried out some grapes, after dinner one day,
10 delicate-looking young girl, who had
crept up on deck for the first time that
morning and for this little kindness Sue
had been sharply rebuked by the head stew
ard She mustn't interfere with the steer
age, he had said the Cunard company
would look ont for them So she could do
nothing bnt watch them wistfully, and long
TO help them.
| They were six days out from Boston.
The ship had encountered head winds, and
would not reach Queenstown for several
days, the officers said. When Sue came on
deck tkat morning, she thought she noticed
n commotion among the steerage passengers.
They gathered in groups, talking earnestly,
and glancing now and then toward the
hatchway that lei TO their quarters below.
The sailors seemed with one accord to avoid
them as far as possible. The jovial first
mate was quite silent, and walked the deck
with quick, nervous step, now casting n
| glance at the huge maihsail, which had been
| set during the night, now pausing n mo-
ment to regard the ragged crowd on the
deck below Never during the voyage had
there been so many of them in sight at one
| time The ship fairly swarmed with them.
Already the cabin passengers were eagerly
| inquiring what was the matter, but could
learn nothing. During the whole forenoon
the taciturnity and mysterious air of the Of
| ficers increased, until several men of intiu-
ence from the cabin, among them Mr.. Ray
mond, waited upon the captain rs COM
mittee, to ascertain once for all the cause
and nature of the disturbance that was ma
king itself felt throughout the ship.
They found him in his little deck state
room, talking in low, earnest tones with the
ships surgeon, and made known their er-
rand If you don't give some explanation,
| captain they said, there will be regular
panic on board The ladies are afraid there
| is n fire in the hold, or that the ship has
sprung leak Let us know at once what
is the matter, and we will either keep ST.
lence altogether, or make such report as
shall satisfy everybody that it is nothing
serious
| Gentlemen replied the captain calmly,
after moments silence, you are disturb
ing yourselves unreasonably. have hard
ly thought it necessary to explain to pass
engers all the proceedings on board my
ship, but am willing TO tell you the tritle
that has caused this alarm. An infant died
| in the steerage last night, of some childish
disorder, and was-buried l believe an
other one is sick now. The doctor was just
informing me that he thought it best, as n
mere matter of precaution, to fumigate the
quarters That is all.
And where is the sick child p
Il left il in the steerage,' answered the
doctor, until l could have the hospital
made ready. shall remove it myself, soon,
before disinfecting the place
The passengers withdrew, not more than
half satisfied, and Mr.. Raymond went to
tell his wife what he had heard. He found
her in her state-room, busily talking with
| thn stnmnr rlnss uhn hnl nlrendv told the